Wireless device detection using multiple antennas separated by an RF shield

ABSTRACT

A system comprising one or more interior antenna(s) positioned within an at least partially enclosed operator area of a human operated machine and one or more exterior antenna(s) positioned on an external portion of the human operated machine, with a radio frequency shield positioned between the interior antenna(s) and the exterior antenna(s), is usable with a processing module electrically connected with the antennas for analyzing signals received from the antennas to determine whether a radio frequency generating device is active within the at least partially enclosed operator area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61/897,648 filed on Oct. 30, 2013 andentitled “WIRELESS DEVICE DETECTION USING MULTIPLE ANTENNAS SEPARATED BYAN RF SHIELD,” which application is expressly incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This disclosure relates to an apparatus, system, and method fordetecting the transmission of wireless devices in human operatedmachinery.

2. Background and Relevant Art

As mobile devices have increased in popularity and features, accidentsinvolving distracted drivers have also increased. Substantial effortshave been made to educate the public regarding the dangers of distracteddriving and to prevent drivers from using mobile devices while driving.Some jurisdictions have gone so far as to enact laws prohibiting the useof wireless devices while driving. Similarly, many companies haveimplemented policies that strictly prohibit the use of mobile deviceswhile operating company machinery, such as cars, mining equipment, orother similar machines.

One difficulty in implementing such policies is the inability oforganizations to determine whether the operators are actually usingmobile devices while operating vehicles or other machinery. While somesystems have been developed to detect the use of mobile devices, thesesystems have been unable to distinguish whether the mobile device isbeing used within the operator area of the vehicle or other machinery.In particular, it can be difficult to distinguish between mobile phoneuse within a vehicle or machine and mobile phone use near the vehicle ormachine.

As one will understand, implementing effective policies that restrictthe use of wireless devices within human operated machinery is made moredifficult by the inability to identify violations of the policy.Accordingly, there is a need for systems, apparatus, or methods that canaccurately determine whether a mobile device is being used and in someinstances, whether the device is simply ‘on’ or ‘active’ within avehicle or some other type of human operated machinery.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention comprise systems, methods, andapparatus configured to detect whether an RF transmission comes from acellular or other RF transmitting device and whether that transmissioncomes from within or outside of a defined space. In some embodiments,the transmission or other operation of a wireless device is detectablewithin an operator area of human operated machinery. In particular,embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, systems, andmethods for determining whether a detected radio signal originates fromwithin the operator's area of the human operated machinery or from alocation outside of the operators area. For example, systems describedherein provide embodiments for determining whether a radio signal isbeing generated and transmitted from within the cab of a vehicle or froma source outside of the vehicle.

An example embodiment can include an apparatus and/or system used fordetermining whether an operator of machinery is using a mobile device.The apparatus and/or system can comprise one or more interior or firstantenna(s) positioned within an at least partially enclosed operatorarea of a human operated machine. One or more external or secondantenna(s) can be positioned on an external portion of the humanoperated machine. Additionally, a radio frequency shield can bepositioned between the first/interior antenna(s) and the second/exteriorantenna(s).

When the shield provides only partial reduction of the signaltransmission magnitude emitted from within a vehicle or machineryoperator area, the signals detected by both the interior and exteriorantennas are correlated to confirm that the signals correspond to a sametransmission from a single mobile device. Then, the signal strengthdetected at the antennas for the various signals that are determined tocorrespond to the same transmission are analyzed to determine whetherthe transmission emitted from within or outside of the operator area, asdescribed herein. For example, it can be determined that thetransmission originated from within the operator area when the signalstrength detected by the interior antenna(s) for the transmission isstronger than the signal strength detected by the exterior antenna(s)for the same transmission.

When the shield provides sufficient reduction of the RF signaltransmissions such that the RF signal transmission cannot be detectedabove the ambient RF noise emitted from within the operator area, thecomposite signals detected at the different antennas can also becomparatively used to determine whether a particular signal is emittedfrom within the operator area, as described herein.

A processing module in electrical communication with the first andsecond antennas compares the signals received from the first and secondantennas. The processing module can then determine, based upon thecomparisons of the first and second signals, whether a radio frequencygenerating device is active within the at least partially enclosedoperator area.

Additionally, embodiments of the invention can also include one or morecorresponding methods for detecting the transmission or active ‘on’status of a radio frequency generating device within an operator area ofa human operated machine.

In embodiments where the shielding provides only partial attenuation,the methods of the invention can include detecting the signals detectedby both the interior and exterior antennas and correlating signals thatcorrespond to a same transmission from a single mobile device. Then, themethods can include comparing the signal strength of correlated signalsto determine whether the transmission emitted from within or outside ofthe operator area, wherein it is determined that the transmissionoriginated from within the operator area when the signal strengthdetected by the interior antenna(s) for the transmission is strongerthan the signal strength detected by the exterior antenna(s) for thesame transmission.

The methods of the invention can also include, for full attenuationshielding, receiving, at a processing module, a first composite signalfrom a first antenna positioned within an at least partially enclosedoperator area of a human operated machine. These methods can alsoinclude receiving, at the processing module, a second composite signalfrom a second antenna positioned exterior to the at least partiallyenclosed operator area of the human operated machine. Additionally, aradio frequency attenuator can be positioned between the first antennaand the second antenna. The methods can further include comparing thefirst composite signal received from the first antenna and the secondcomposite signal received from the second antenna, and then determining,based upon the comparison of the first composite signal and the secondcomposite signal, whether a radio frequency generating device is activewithin the at least partially enclosed operator area.

Additional features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of theinvention will be set forth in the description which follows, and inpart will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by thepractice of such exemplary embodiments. The features and advantages ofsuch embodiments may be realized and obtained by means of theinstruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. These and other features will become more fully apparent fromthe following description and appended claims, or may be learned by thepractice of such exemplary embodiments as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and otheradvantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a moreparticular description of the invention briefly described above will berendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawingsdepict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not thereforeto be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will bedescribed and explained with additional specificity and detail throughthe use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified schematic of a system for wirelessdevice detection using multiple antennas separated by a radio frequencyshield;

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1 within a car;

FIG. 2B illustrates a close-up view of a feature of the system depictedin FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic of the system of FIG. 2A, includingexample signals;

FIG. 4 illustrates another schematic of the system of FIG. 2A, includingexample signals;

FIG. 5 describes a method for using multiple antennas separated by aradio frequency attenuator to detect use of a wireless device;

FIG. 6A describes a method for using correlating signals detected by afirst and second antenna; and

FIG. 6B describes another method for using correlating signals detectedby a first and second antenna.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention extends to systems, methods, and apparatusconfigured to detect whether an RF transmission comes from a cellular orother RF transmitting device and whether that transmission comes fromwithin or outside of a defined space. In some embodiments, thetransmission or other operation of a wireless device is detectablewithin an operator area of human operated machinery. In particular,embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus, systems, andmethods for determining whether a detected radio signal originates fromwithin the operator's area of the human operated machinery or from alocation outside of the operators area. For example, systems describedherein provide embodiments for determining whether a radio signal isbeing generated and transmitted from within the cab of a vehicle or froma source outside of the vehicle.

Some existing systems have attempted to detect the location of a mobiledevice relative to a vehicle based on a detected power of the signalemitted from the mobile device, as detected by one or more receivingantennas. However, this is problematic for several reasons. For example,mobile devices can be serviced by several different providers, and eachmobile device will typically only communicate with the communicationtowers associated with the respective service providers. The further themobile devices are positioned from the towers, the more signaling poweris typically required and utilized by the mobile devices. As such,multiple mobile devices may be present within a relatively confinedarea, and each device may be transmitting at significantly differentpower levels based upon the distance between each mobile device and itsrespective service provider's tower.

Furthermore, the radio signals emitted from mobile devices will reflectoff of various surfaces of the vehicle/machinery so that the receivingantenna(s) will detect multiple instances of the same signals at variousattenuated or intensified power levels. This multi-path effect issimilar to an echo reverberating in a canyon, such that in such a smallconfined space it is practically impossible to detect the exact locationof the originating source. The foregoing problem is even furtherexacerbated when multiple mobile devices are utilized at the same timewithin a relatively close proximity.

Accordingly, for at least the foregoing reasons, it can be difficult todetect the location of an emitted mobile device RF signal based solelyon the detected power of that emitted RF signal.

By way of example, a trucking company may desire to enforce no-phonepolicies within their truck fleet. However, it will be appreciated thatthe monitored truck may be surrounded by other vehicles or pedestriansthat are using their own mobile phones while that monitored truck driveswithin a city or on a highway. Radio frequencies from each of thesemobile phones may enter into and travel through the operator area of thetruck at various power levels. As such, simply detecting the presence ofradio frequencies within the cab of the truck may be insufficient todetermine whether a mobile phone is being used within the truck.Additionally, numerous false positives may be detected, potentiallyresulting in a truck driver being inappropriately reprimanded.

As such, at least one embodiment described herein, provides a system fordistinguishing between RF transmissions that originate from within theoperator area of a machine and those that originate from outside of theoperator area. In at least one embodiment, a first antenna is placedwithin the operator area of the machine, and a second antenna is placedexternal to the operator area. As defined herein, the term “operatorarea” refers to any area of a vehicle or machinery, including humanoperated devices, wherein a human operator can be positioned. Theoperator area is preferably constrained by a frame and is at leastpartially enclosed. The operator area can also include controls forcontrolling the vehicle or machinery. However, in this regard, it willbe appreciated that the operator area can also include passenger areawhere a passenger can be positioned during operation of the vehicle ormachinery. In some instance, the operator area is very large, such as ina multi-person transport vehicle. In other instances, the operator areais more constrained, such as the cabin of a crane or tractor.

It will be appreciated that the term vehicle and machinery areinterchangeable and can refer to any device or other machine that iscapable of moving or performing a mechanical process while a person ispositioned within the operator area of the machine. For example, avehicle or machine can refer to a car, a crane, a bulldozer, a miningshovel, a boat, an airplane, or any number of other similar devices ormachines.

A radio frequency (RF) attenuator or shield is positioned between thefirst antenna and the second antenna. As referenced within thisapplication, the ‘RF shield’ and ‘RF attenuator’ are interchangeablyused to describe any material, component or medium, either active orinactive, that measurably reduces the signal strength of a radio signal.For example, in at least one embodiment, an RF shield can comprise anelectrically conductive material or medium such as a metallic sheet,metallic fabric, metallic screen, metallic paint, or any otherelectrically conductive material or medium, including highly conductivenon-metallic materials. Intentionally or unintentionally positioning anRF shield between the first antenna and the second antenna will, atleast to some extent, electromagnetically isolate the antennas from eachother such that a signal originating within an operator area will bemeasurably stronger at the first antenna within an operator area (on aninner side of the RF shield) than at the second antenna positionedoutside of the operator area (on an outer side of the RF shield). Insome embodiments, the RF shield can provide substantially completeattenuation of signals emitted from the operator area or only partialattenuation of the signals emitted from the operator area.

Some embodiments of the invention also correlate detected transmissionfrom a mobile device with operation of the vehicle/machinery where themobile device is being utilized. Accordingly, embodiments of theinvention can determine whether a machine/vehicle is being operatedwhile a mobile device is ‘powered on, transmitting RF signals, and islocated inside or within the operator area of the machine or vehicle’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified schematic of a system for wirelessdevice detection using multiple antennas separated by a radio frequencyshield. As depicted, a first antenna 100 and a second antenna 110 are incommunication with a processing unit 130. The processing unit 130 maycommunicate with a remote computing system 140 through mutual antennas132, 142. Additionally, an RF shield 120 separates the first antenna 100and the second antenna 110.

The processing unit 130 and the remote computing system 140 each includeone or more respective hardware processors and system memory or otherstorage devices having stored computer-executable instructions which,when executed by the one or more processors, implement the processesdescribed herein, for differentiating whether a signal transmissionoriginates from within or external to an operator area. The processingunit 130 and/or remote computing system 140 can each perform all or anylimited portion of the processing required for performing thedifferentiation described herein. Each of the processing unit 130 andthe remote computing system 140 can be a stand-alone computer device ora distributed computing system that incorporates a plurality of othercomputing devices. While the foregoing embodiment refers to wirelesscommunication between the antennas and the processing unit 130, it willbe appreciated that the data received from each antenna can be sent tothe remote computing system 140 via one or more wired or wirelesscommunication channels for the comparative analysis to be performed bythe remote computing system 140.

In at least one embodiment, the processing unit 130 performs signalanalysis to determine whether a detected radio signal is generated fromwithin an operator area of a machine or if the detected radio signal isgenerated from outside the operator area. The processing unit 130 mayalso be configured to issue mentoring messages within the operator area,such as to turn the wireless device off, to turn the machine off (orotherwise influence the operation of the machine), and/or to prepare areport on the detected radio signal. The prepared report can either besaved locally for later download or transmitted to the remote computingsystem 140 for access by a third party. The processing unit 130 can alsotransmit the report to the remote computing system 140 in real-time orat some other time interval. In alternate embodiments, the processingunit 130 performs basic signal analysis on the detected signal andtransmits data to the remote computing system 140 for the furtherprocessing described herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates an embodiment of the system of FIG. 1 within a car200. In particular, a first antenna 100 is attached to the ceilingwithin the car cab, and a second antenna 110 is attached to the roof ofthe car 200 on the outside of the operator area. Additionally, aprocessing unit 130 is positioned within the trunk or any other area ofthe car 200. The processing unit is in communication with the firstantenna 100 and the second antenna 110 through a wired connection and/orthrough one or more wireless communication media. The processing unit130 may also be in further communication with a remote computing system(not shown), such as remote computing system 140, referenced above.

In at least one embodiment, the roof of the car 200 functions as the RFshield 120. In some instances, the vehicle's roof is not constructed ofa material or medium that sufficiently attenuates the RF transmissionsoriginating from within that vehicle. In those instances, a material ormedium can be introduced between antenna 100 and antenna 110 such thatthe additional material or medium can function as an RF shield. In someembodiments, the base or mounting plate of the first and/or secondantenna is configured with a sufficient size and material property toeffectively operate as the RF shield.

It will be appreciated that the first antenna 100 and the second antenna110 can be positioned in locations other than those depicted in FIG. 2A.For example, the second antenna 110 can be attached to the bottom of thecar, the side of the car, the hood of the car, or some other part of thecar that is separated from the first antenna by one or more RFshield(s). Furthermore, the first antenna can comprise any quantity ofone or more interior antennas positioned within the operator area andthe second antenna can comprise any quantity of two or more exteriorantennas positioned outside of the operator area. In any case, at leastone RF shield at least partially isolates the first antenna(s) 100 fromthe second antenna(s) 110 in a direction relative to a signal emittedfrom the operator area.

It will also be appreciated that the first antenna(s) 100 and the secondantenna(s) 110 can be of the same antenna type or of different antennatypes. By way of example, and not limitation, in the case that bothantennas are of the same type, the first antenna and the second antennamay both be omnidirectional. In contrast, in the case that the firstantenna 100 and the second antenna 110 are of a different type, thefirst antenna 100 can comprise a directional antenna, while the secondantenna can comprise an omnidirectional antenna. Though only a couple ofantenna types are mentioned herein, one will understand that the firstantenna 100 and the second antenna 110 can comprise a variety ofdifferent antenna types and still function as described.

In addition to not being limited to a particular antenna type, one willunderstand that the depiction of a car in FIG. 2A is not meant to limitthe claimed system to a vehicle. For example, embodiments of thedepicted system can be implemented in heavy equipment, like tractors,mining machinery, cranes, other construction equipment, busses, trucks,trains, trollies, trams, ferries, boats, ships, airplanes, or within anyother human operated machine that has an at least partially enclosedoperator area. As such the present invention provides a flexibleplatform that can be implemented in a variety of different settings toprovide wireless detection.

FIG. 2B depicts a close-up view of the first antenna, second antenna,and RF shield of FIG. 2A. Additionally, FIG. 2B includes an externalmobile phone 210 that is outside of the operator area of the car 200 andan internal mobile phone 220 that is inside the operator area of the car200. Also depicted are four rays 212, 214, 222, and 224, eachrepresenting a component of a corresponding radio signal that is atleast partially directed towards a respective antenna 100, 110. One willunderstand that radio signals do not behave as rays when beingbroadcast. In FIG. 2B, however, for the sake of clarity and simplicity,rays are used to indicate a radio signal travelling in a particulardirection, and in some cases, being prevented from traveling in specificdirections.

In the depicted example, the external mobile phone 210 may be associatedwith a pedestrian talking on a phone as the car 200 from FIG. 2A passes.As depicted, both the first antenna 100 and the second antenna 110detect the radio signals from the external mobile phone 210. Inparticular, as depicted by ray 212 and ray 214, the first antenna 100and the second antenna 110 may both receive signals of similar strengthand composition from the external mobile phone 210. The signal 214received by the first antenna 100 may be slightly attenuated by awindshield, window, or some other body component of the car 200. But, inat least one embodiment, the signals received by the first antenna 100and the second antenna 110 from the external mobile phone 210 areidentifiably similar in strength/power.

Also depicted in FIG. 2B, the internal mobile phone 220 is broadcastingray 222 directed towards the second antenna 110 and ray 224 directedtowards the first antenna 100. Notably, ray 222 and ray 224 correspondto a same signal transmission. In this case, however, the RF shield 120blocks, either completely or partially, the radio signal (222) beingbroadcast towards the second antenna 110. As such, the first antenna 100receives a strong reading of the radio signal (224) being broadcast bythe internal mobile phone 220 and a reading of the radio signal (214)being broadcast by the external mobile phone 210. In contrast, thesecond antenna 110 receives a reading of the radio signal (212) beingbroadcast by the external mobile device 210, but little or no reading ofthe radio signal (222) being broadcast by the internal mobile device220. Rays 212 and 214 correspond to a same signal transmission, whereasrays 212 and 214 do not correspond to the same signal transmission ordevice as rays 222 and 224. While FIG. 2B depicts only a single internalmobile phone 220 and a single external mobile phone 210, the describedsystem can function with multiple mobile phones either inside or outsidethe operator area corresponding to many different signal transmissions.

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a schematic of the system describedabove in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B. In addition to system components, the FIG.3 depicts example signals 340, 350, 360 at different stages of thesystem. For example, the first antenna 100 receives composite signal 340and the second antenna 110 receives composite signal 350. Compositesignal 340 comprises a signal received from the internal mobile phone220 and the exterior mobile phone 210. Composite signal 350, on theother hand, comprises a signal from the external mobile phone 210 andincludes little or no signal from the internal mobile phone 220.

Both composite signals received by the first antenna 100 and the secondantenna 310 can be passed through filters 300, 310. In particular, thefilters 300, 310 can include band pass filters that are configured tofilter out radio frequencies that do not relate to devices of interest.For example, the filters 300, 310 can be configured to pass throughfrequencies related to Wi-Fi, cellular phone use, Bluetooth use, andother frequencies of interest, but ignore and/or filter out frequenciesrelated to AM and FM radio transmission, television transmission, andother similar frequencies that are not related to devices of interest.As depicted in FIG. 3, a dotted box surrounds the portion of eachcomposite signal 340, 350 that the band pass filter is centered around.

In at least one embodiment after filtering, corresponding to fullattenuation shielding, the composite signal from the second antenna 110can be subtracted from the composite signal from the first antenna 100.Subtracting the composite 350 signal from the second antenna 110 fromthe composite signal 340 received by the first antenna 100 will causethe similar signal components detected by the second antenna 110 to beremoved from the same signal components detected by the first antenna100. Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 2B, if the second antenna onlydetected the signal from the external mobile phone 210, while the firstantenna detected a signal from both the external mobile phone 210 andthe internal mobile phone 200, subtracting the composite signal receivedby the second antenna 110 from the composite signal received by thefirst antenna 100 will result in a signal that corresponds to the signalbroadcast by the internal mobile phone 220. FIG. 3 depicts the resultingsignal as signal 360.

In at least one embodiment, removing signals detected by the secondantenna 110 from the signals detected by the first antenna 100 canfunctionally remove ambient noise from the signal detected by the firstantenna 100. In other words, subtracting the signal 350 from signal 340can result in a signal that comprises components that were predominantlygenerated on the same side of the RF shield 120 as the first antenna100.

The resulting signal 360 can be transmitted to a processing unit 130and/or forwarded to a remote computing system 140 (not shown) that canindividually or cooperatively determine that a mobile phone was in usewithin the operator area of the car 200. The processing unit 130 and/orremote computing system 140 can also determine whether the car 200 orother machine was being operated at the time of the detected mobilephone use.

In at least one embodiment, the processing unit 130 can determine if amobile phone is in use within the operator area of the car byidentifying if the power contained within signal 360 rises above athreshold. One will understand that even after subtracting signal 350from signal 340, additional radio signals may be present within theoperator area of the car 200—even though no wireless device is presentwithin the operator area, such as signals generated by the car itself orother signals reflected within the car that originated from outside ofthe car. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment, a threshold is used todetermine if signal 360 indicates that a device is active within theoperator area. The threshold can be a pre-defined threshold or anadjustable threshold that accounts for any of the original signalstrength, the type of signal detected, the frequency of the signal,and/or historical detected signal characteristics.

In some embodiments, the shielding between the interior and exteriorantennas is only sufficient to partially attenuate a signal emitted fromthe operator area of a vehicle or other machinery. For instance, theemitted signal can be reflected out of the operator area until it isdetected by the exterior antenna(s). Additionally, when the shieldingfails to fully prevent transmission of the signal through the shielding,the exterior antenna(s) will be able to detect a partially attenuatedsignal corresponding to the emitted transmission.

For example, FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment where the signals detected bythe interior and exterior antennas 100, 110 are analyzed to identifysignal pulses and/or other signal characteristics that are sufficient tocorrelate signals corresponding to a same transmission and/or device. Insome instances, this can include scraping and analyzing transmissionmeta-data. In other instances, this can include analyzing signal types,transmission frequencies and channels, signal durations, relative signalamplitudes, and/or other similar signal characteristics. In the depictedexample, the first antenna 100 detects signal 440 and the second antenna110 detects signal 450, and the detected signals 440, 450 are thenanalyzed and correlated within the time domain.

For example, signal component 442 from signal 440 can be correlated withsignal component 452 from signal 450. In addition to identifyingsufficient correlation between signal component 452 and signal component442, processing unit 130 can also identify differences in amplitudebetween the correlated signal components. For example, the processingunit can determine that signal component 452 and signal component 442appear to have significantly similar waveforms. As such, the processingunit 130 can determine that both signal component 442 and signalcomponent 452 originated from outside of an operators area becauseneither signal appears to have been significantly attenuated by the RFshield 120.

The processing unit 130 can also correlate signal component 444 andsignal component 454. In this case, however, the processing unit 130 canidentify a significant difference in amplitude between signal component444 and signal component 454. Based upon the identified difference inamplitude, the processing unit 130 can determine that signal component440 originated within the operating area and that the resulting signalcomponent 454 was attenuated by the RF shield 120 before reaching thesecond antenna 110.

One will understand that the depicted signal components 452, 442, 444,454 are merely illustrative of a particular embodiment. In practice, thesignal components may comprise carrier waves, phase information,frequency information, and other similar signal traits. The signalcomponents 452, 442, 444, 454 in FIG. 4, however, are depicted in asimplified form to more clearly depict the step of signal correlation.In general, multiple different means can be used to correlate signalsand signal components to each other. In particular, in at least oneembodiment, the method of correlating signals and signal components isconfigured to clearly identify correlated signals that have beensignificantly attenuated with respect to each other.

Upon determining that a signal is being generated from within theoperator area, the processing unit 130 can transmit a mentoring messageto occupants of the operator area that instruct the user to discontinueuse of the mobile device, discontinue use of the vehicle/machinery,transmit the data to a remote computing system (not shown), and/orotherwise store the information for later access.

The processing unit 130 can also identify unique characteristics of theidentified signal that is being generated within the operator area andstore these identified unique characteristics for further processing.These identified unique characteristics can be used, for instance, tolater verify that the detected phone belonged to an individual that waspresent within the operator area and that is associated with a useraccount that identifies the phone of the user as well as the vehicle.The identified unique characteristics may also be used later to moreeasily identify when a signal is being generated from within theoperator area, which can also be correlated with driving records andphone log records.

In at least one embodiment, the processing unit 130 can comprise anetwork analyzer, or perform at least some functions of a networkanalyzer. For example, the processing unit 130 can be used to determinethe type of signal being broadcast (i.e., SMS text, phone call, dataconnection, etc.). Additionally, the processing unit 130 may be able todetermine a destination of the signal, as well as the originationdevice. Also, in at least one embodiment, the processing unit 130 may beable to identify whether the signal is directed towards an emergencyservice.

Further, in at least one embodiment, the remote computing system (140from FIG. 1) can comprise a mobile phone account management system,which can provide access to mobile phone plans and accounts. As such, inat least one embodiment, upon detecting a mobile phone being used withinthe operator area of a car, the processing unit 130 can notify theremote computing system 140, which can then access network records todetermine whether a mobile phone associated with the driver of the caris currently active. This may provide the benefit of distinguishingbetween passengers and operators using mobile phones. For example, a busdriver may be prohibited from using mobile devices, while passengers ofthe bus may be free to do so. Accordingly, in at least one embodiment,upon detecting the wireless signal originating from within the bus, theremote computing system can access network records and determine if thebus driver's mobile phone is active, and thus distinguish betweenpassengers' mobile devices and the bus driver's mobile devices.

In an alternative embodiment, the remote computing system 140 firstidentifies that a mobile device that is associated with a particularuser account is active. In this case, “active” can include the phonetransmitting information, the phone receiving information, anapplication being executed on the phone, the phone being powered on, thephone being in a low power state, and/or the phone otherwise performingan electronic function. The remote computing system 140 can identifythat the mobile device is active by communicating with a cellularcarrier that is associated with the user account, by directly accessingan application running on the mobile device, by accessing informationreceived from a cellular tower, or through any number of other methodsfor identifying a powered on mobile device.

Once the remote computing system 140 determines that a mobile device isactive, the remote computing system 140 can access the processing unit130 within the vehicle or machine to determine if a wireless signal isbeing generated within the operator area, using the methods and systemsdescribed above. In at least one embodiment, this may provide morereliable results because the remote computing system 140 firstdetermines that a mobile device of interest is active, and thendetermines if a mobile device is being used within the operator area,instead of continually attempting to distinguish between internallyoriginating and externally originating signals.

Accordingly, FIGS. 1-3 and the corresponding text illustrate orotherwise describe various components, apparatus, and systems that candetect a radio signal that is generated within the operator area of amachine. Specifically, embodiments described herein can distinguishbetween radio signals that originate outside the operator area andsignals that originate within the operator area. As such, embodimentsdescribed herein can distinguish between a car occupant using a wirelessdevice and a wireless device being used by a passerby who is outside thecar.

As described above, the proliferation of wireless devices hassignificantly increased the likelihood of radio signals being detectablewithin an operator area of a machine, even though those radio signalswere not generated within the operator area. As such, the presentsystems, apparatus, and methods provide a solution to a growing problem.

In addition to the foregoing, embodiments of the present invention canalso be described in terms of methods comprising one or more acts foraccomplishing a particular result. Along these lines, FIGS. 5-6Billustrates a method described below with reference to the modules andcomponents of FIGS. 1 through 4.

For example, FIG. 5 illustrates that a method for detecting the use of aradio frequency generating device within an operator area of a humanoperated machine can include act 500 of receiving a first signal from afirst antenna. Act 500 includes receiving, at a processing module, afirst signal from a first antenna positioned within an at leastpartially enclosed operator area of a human operated machine. Forexample, FIG. 2B depicts the first antenna 100 receiving a signal fromthe internal mobile phone 220. As further shown in FIG. 3, the receivedsignal 340 is then communicated to a processing unit 130.

FIG. 5 also shows that the method can include act 510 of receiving asecond signal from a second antenna that is separated from the firstantenna by a radio frequency attenuator. The second signal can be a samesignal as the first signal, only at a reduced signal strength, or acomposite signal that is different than the first composite signal, asdescribed above. In at least one implementation, at least components ofthe first signal and the second signal originate from the same signalsource at the same moment in time, even though they may arrive at therespective antennas at different times and with different signalproperties resulting from their traversing different paths to therespective antennas. Act 510 includes receiving, at the processingmodule, the second signal from a second antenna positioned exterior tothe at least partially enclosed operator area of the human operatedmachine, wherein a radio frequency attenuator (e.g., shield) ispositioned between the first antenna and the second antenna. In thisembodiment, the RF attenuator operates in such a manner as tosubstantially shield the exterior antenna from signals emitted fromwithin the operator area relative to signals detected by the interiorantenna.

Similar to the description above, FIG. 2B depicts the second/exteriorantenna 110 receiving a signal from the external mobile phone 210. Thesecond antenna is depicted as being on the outside of the car 200.Additionally, an RF shield 120 separates the first antenna 100 from thesecond antenna 110. As further shown in FIG. 3, the received signal 350is then communicated to a processing unit 130.

FIG. 5 shows that the method can also include act 520 of comparing thefirst signal and the second signal. Act 520 includes comparing featuresand attributes of the first signal received from the first antenna andthe second signal received from the second antenna, even though thesignals may be the same signals of different signal strength. In theseembodiments, the signal comparison includes correlating signalscorresponding to the same transmission or device, in which case thesignals are the same signals that are only detected at different signalstrengths. As indicated above, this correlation can also include,therefore, identifying pulses, signal frequencies, or other identifyingcharacteristics of the matching transmission signal. Thereafter, thecomparison can include determining a signal strength of thecorresponding detected signal by the interior and exterior antenna todetermine whether the strength of the signal detected by the interiorantenna is greater than the signal strength detected for the signal bythe exterior antenna, in which case the signal originated from withinthe operator area.

Comparison of the signals can also include comparing different compositesignals. For example, FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment where a signal 350received from the second antenna 110 is subtracted from a signal 340received by the first antenna 100 when the signals are differentcomposite signals. The resulting signal 360 is then analyzed byprocessing unit 130. In this way, the signal are compared to each otherby removing the components in the signal 350 received by the secondantenna 110 from the signal 340 received by the first antenna 100.

One will understand, however, that other methods of comparing thesignals can be used as equivalents to the method described herein. Itwill also be appreciated that signal strength measurements can betracked at various times and with various sample rates to determinewhether a stronger signal is detected by the first antenna within theoperator area as opposed to the signal strength detected by the secondantenna located outside of the operator area at the various sampletimes.

Comparing the first and second signals can also include scraping themetadata, patterns and/or signatures from the first and/or secondsignals to differentiate and/or distinguish particular signal types orto associate a particular signal with a particular user mobile device oraccount, as generally suggested above.

In an alternative embodiment, the relative origination of the signalscan be determined without directly comparing the signals. For example,the signal strengths of each respective signal can be entered into anequation and then the resulting value can be compared to a baselinevalue to determine whether the signal originated from within theoperator area. In this example, the actual signals are not compared toeach other.

With regard to sampling the various signals, it will be appreciated thatthe processing unit 130 and the remote computing system 140 can also beconfigured to sample and record the types and strengths of the signalsdetected the antennas at any desired intervals. In some instances, thesampling is only performed during operation of the vehicle/machine. Inother instances, sampling is performed periodically at a fixed intervalrate. In yet other instances, the sampling is performed at differentvariable interval rates responsively to different detectedcircumstances, such as, but not limited to times of the day, speed ofthe vehicle, location of the vehicle/machinery, detected number ofoccupants in the vehicle/machinery, administrator preferences, and soforth.

FIG. 5 shows that the methods of the invention can include an act 530 ofdetermining if a device is active within the operator area. Act 530 caninclude determining, based upon the comparison of the first signal andthe second signal, whether a radio frequency generating device is activewithin the at least partially enclosed operator area. For example, FIG.2B depicts an interior mobile phone 220 that is being used. As depictedthe active interior mobile phone 220 is generating a signal that isdetected by the first antenna 100 but not by the second antenna 110, orat least not at the same strength as the signal is detected by the firstantenna 100. Additionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the determination canalso be made in some embodiments after subtracting the composite signal350 received by the second antenna 110 from the composite signal 340received by the first antenna 100. In at least the foregoing ways, thedescribed system of interior and exterior antennas separated by a RFshield positioned on or near an operator area can distinguish between aradio signal generated within the operator area and a radio signalgenerated outside of the operator area.

The various acts shown in FIG. 5 can be performed iteratively at variousintervals, as described above. Furthermore, the methods of the inventioncan include performing all of the acts at a single system or by aplurality of systems. Accordingly, one or more advantages can beachieved using systems, apparatus, and methods described herein. It willalso be appreciated, with regard to the foregoing that the accuracy ofvarious measurements and/or collection of the various RF data can besensitive to and/or vary with different environmental conditions such astemperature, humidity, reflective surfacing, etc. Accordingly, theaforementioned measuring of RF power, as performed by the antennas andother system components, is temperature sensitive and will, therefore,compensate for the different environmental conditions by includingtemperature compensatory circuitry/software and other environmentalcompensatory circuitry/software at the antennas and/or other processingunits (130, 140) to compensate for any variability caused by a detectedenvironmental condition.

As an example of at least one embodiment for comparing the first andsecond signals, FIG. 6A illustrates that a method for comparing a firstsignal and a second signal can include act 600 of filtering first andsecond signals. Act 600 can include passing the first signal and thesecond signal through one or more filters. In particular, the filterscan comprise band pass filters that are configured to filter out anysignals and frequencies that are not of interest. For example, it may bedesirable to filter out Bluetooth signals, radio signals, TV signals,and other signals that are not related to mobile phones. In variousembodiments, the filters can be static or dynamic, digital or analog, orany combination of thereof.

FIG. 6A also shows that the method can include act 610 of subtractingthe second signal from the first signal. Act 610 can include invertingthe second signal and adding it to the first signal or directlysubtracting the second signal from the first signal. The step ofsubtracting the second signal from the first signal can be performed bya digital processing unit, one or more discrete analog components, oneor more integrated components, or through other similar components.

FIG. 6A also shows that the method can include act 620 of identifyingwithin a resulting signal any remaining signal information. Act 620 caninclude identifying any residual first signal components that remainafter subtracting the second signal from the first signal. In at leastone embodiment, Act 620 includes only identifying remaining signalinformation that exceeds a specific threshold. The threshold can bedetermined in a number of different ways. For instance, the thresholdcan be a previously determined static threshold, a dynamic thresholdthat automatically adjusts to be a certain level higher than the noisefloor, a dynamic threshold that is automatically calculated based uponthe power of the first signal and/or the second signal, or a dynamicthreshold that is otherwise calculated.

As an additional example of at least one embodiment for comparing thefirst and second signals, FIG. 6B illustrates that a method forcomparing a first signal and a second signal can include act 630 offiltering the first and second signals. Similar to Act 600 above, Act630 can include passing the first signal and the second signal throughone or more filters. The filters can comprise band pass filters that areconfigured to filter out any signals and frequencies that are not ofinterest. In various embodiments, the filters can be static or dynamic,digital or analog, or any combination of thereof.

FIG. 6B also shows that the method can include act 640 of correlatingsignal components within the second signal and the first signal.Specifically, act 640 can include identification of varioussub-components of the second signal that correlate with similarsub-components within the first signal. In at least one embodiment, thefirst signal and the second signal both respectively contain any signalsthat are being detected by the first antenna and the second antenna. Assuch, the first signal may contain multiple individual signals that arebeing broadcast from a variety of different devices. The second signalcan also similarly comprise a variety of different signals beingreceived from different signals. In at least one embodiment,“sub-components” can include the individual signals that are containedwith either the first signal or second signal, respectively.

Accordingly, act 640 can comprise identifying, within the first signal,sub-components, or individual signals, that are associated with singledevices and correlating those identified individual signals withsub-components, or individual signals, within the second signal that areassociated with the same respective device. Sub-components from thefirst signal can be matched with sub-components from the second signalby comparing scraped data, such as metadata, by comparing frequency andchannel information, by matching patterns of the sub-components withinthe first signal with patterns of sub-components with the second signal,or by any other known method of signal matching.

FIG. 6B also shows that the method can include act 650 of identifyingdifferences in characteristics between the correlated signal components.Act 650 can include identifying a specific sub-component from the firstsignal comprises significantly more power than the correlatedsub-component from the second signal. Put another way, act 650 caninclude identifying that the sub-component from the second signalappears to be attenuated by at least a threshold amount. In at least oneembodiment, the attenuation level of the RF shield determines thethreshold level.

Accordingly, FIGS. 6A and 6B both provide methods for comparing thefirst signal with the second signal. One will understand that differentmethods for comparing the first signal to the second signal may existthat if used would fall within the bounds of the present invention.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. For instance,while the foregoing embodiments have been described with specificreference to differentiating whether a mobile device is on and/or istransmitting signals from within an operator area of avehicle/machinery, based on the use of two antennas and an RF shieldinterposed between the two antennas, it will be appreciated that theinventive concepts of the present invention can also extend to the useof the antennas and RF shield to differentiate whether a mobile deviceis active or being utilized within any predetermined location orfacility by positioning the RF shield on a wall of the facility and bypositioning the antennas on opposing sides of the RF shield.

The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only asillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is,therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes that come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus used for determining whether a mobile device istransmitting from within a human operated machine, the apparatuscomprising: a first antenna positioned within an at least partiallyenclosed operator area of a human operated machine; a second antennapositioned external to the operator area of the human operated machine;a radio frequency shield positioned between the first antenna and thesecond antenna; and a processing module that is in electricalcommunication with the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein theprocessing module is configured to: receive a first signal received fromthe first antenna and a second signal received from the second antenna,and determine, based upon an analysis of the first signal and the secondsignal, whether a radio frequency generating device is active within theat least partially enclosed operator area.
 2. The apparatus as recitedin claim 1, wherein the human operated machine is an automobile and theoperator area is a cab of the vehicle.
 3. The apparatus as recited inclaim 1, wherein the human operated machine is a piece of industrialequipment.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the radiofrequency shield comprises a component of the human operated machine. 5.The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and secondsignals are the same transmission signal at different signal strengths.6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing modulecomprises a remote server.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1,wherein the second antenna is positioned on a roof of the human operatedmachinery.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the firstsignal and the second signal both originate from a signal source at asame moment in time.
 9. A system installed in a human operated machineconfigured to detect transmission of a radio frequency generating devicewithin the human operated machine, the system comprising: a firstantenna positioned within an at least partially enclosed operator areaof a human operated machine; a second antenna positioned external to theat least partially enclosed operator area of the human operated machine;a radio frequency shield positioned between the first antenna and thesecond antenna; and a processing module that receives informationgenerated by the first antenna and the second antenna, wherein theprocessing module is configured to: receive a first signal received fromthe first antenna and a second signal received from the second antenna,and determine, based upon an analysis of the first signal and the secondsignal, whether a radio frequency generating device is active within theat least partially enclosed operator area.
 10. The system as recited inclaim 9, wherein the processing module comprises a remote server. 11.The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first signal and thesecond signal are correlated as being a same signal transmitted from asingle radio frequency generating device and wherein the first signalhas a greater signal strength, as detected by the first antenna, than asignal strength detected by the second signal, as detected by the secondantenna, and wherein it is determined based on relative signal strengthof the first and second signals that the single radio frequencygenerating device is transmitting from within the at least partiallyenclosed operator area.
 12. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein ifit is determined that a radio frequency generating device is activewithin the at least partially enclosed operator area, the processingmodule is further configured to access a mobile phone account managementsystem and determine whether a radio frequency generating device that isassociated with a specific account holder is active.
 13. The system asrecited in claim 9, wherein the processing module is further configuredto: subtract at least a portion of the second signal from at least aportion of the first signal; and identify at least a portion of thefirst signal that is a threshold amount greater than a correspondingportion of the second signal.
 14. The system as recited in claim 9,wherein the processing module comprises one or more band pass filtersconfigured to filter the first signal and the second signal.
 15. Thesystem as recited in claim 9, wherein the processing module comprises anetwork analyzer.
 16. A method for detecting the transmission of a radiofrequency generating device that is located within an operator area of ahuman operated machine, the method comprising: receiving, at aprocessing module, a first signal from a first antenna positioned withinan at least partially enclosed operator area of a human operatedmachine; receiving, at the processing module, a second signal from asecond antenna positioned exterior to the at least partially enclosedoperator area of the human operated machine, wherein a radio frequencyattenuator is positioned between the first antenna and the secondantenna relative to a signal originating from within the operator area;receiving the first signal received from the first antenna and thesecond signal received from the second antenna; and determining, basedupon an analysis of the first signal and the second signal, whether aradio frequency generating device is active within the at leastpartially enclosed operator area.
 17. A method as recited in claim 16,wherein analyzing the first signal and the second signal comprises:filtering the first signal and the second signal with one or more bandpass filters; and comparing one or more signal pulses within thefiltered first signal to one or more signal pulses within the filteredsecond signal.
 18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein analyzingthe first signal and the second signal comprises subtracting at least aportion of the second signal from at least a portion of the firstsignal.
 19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein determining whethera radio frequency generating device is active within the at leastpartially enclosed operator area comprises identifying at least aportion of the first signal that is a threshold amount greater than acorresponding portion of the second signal.
 20. A method as recited inclaim 16, wherein the method further includes correlating the firstsignal and the second signal as corresponding to a single signaltransmission or a single radio frequency generating device and whereinthe first signal has a greater signal strength, as detected by the firstantenna, than a signal strength of the second signal as detected by thesecond antenna, and wherein it is determined based on relative signalstrength of the first and second signals that the single radio frequencygenerating device is transmitting from within the at least partiallyenclosed operator area.
 21. A method as recited in claim 16, furthercomprising: extracting frequency information from the first signal andthe second signal; and identifying, based upon the extracted frequencyinformation, data relating to one or more communications that are beingreceived by the first antenna and the second antenna.
 22. A computerstorage device having stored computer-executable instructions which,when executed by at least one hardware processor, implement a method fordetecting the use of a radio frequency generating device by within anoperator area of a human operated machine, wherein the method includes:receiving, at a processing module, a first signal from a first antennapositioned within an at least partially enclosed operator area of ahuman operated machine; receiving, at the processing module, a secondsignal from a second antenna positioned exterior to the at leastpartially enclosed operator area of the human operated machine, whereina radio frequency attenuator is positioned between the first antenna andthe second antenna relative to a signal originating from within theoperator area; comparing the first signal received from the firstantenna and the second signal received from the second antenna tocorrelate the first and second signals as being a same signal atdifferent strengths; and determining, based upon the comparison of thefirst signal and the second signal and relative strengths of the firstand second signal, whether a radio frequency generating devicecorresponding to the first and second signals is active within the atleast partially enclosed operator area.